Fujifilm firmware brings swifter viewfinder and sundry features to X-E2

Fujifilm has released a firmware update for its X-E2 mirrorless camera, bringing its viewfinder performance up to the standard set by the X-T1. Firmware 2.0 also adds a choice over the color of focus peaking and the ability to apply Face Detection and EVF/LCD Setting to one of the customizable buttons. A 'Suppressed Flash' option has also been added. The viewfinder now operates with a lag of just 0.005 seconds and maintains its faster refresh rate in low light. The firmware is available for download from the company's website.

NEW FIRMWARE UPDATE BRINGS FUJIFILM X-T1 VIEWFINDER PERFORMANCE AND MORE TO THE AWARD-WINNING X-E2

Firmware v.2.00 brings even more value to the premium X-E2 with performance gains and new functions

Valhalla, N.Y., April 30, 2014 – As a leader in advanced digital camera technology and outstanding image resolution, FUJIFILM North America Corporation today announced a significant new firmware update for the FUJIFILM X-E2 that gives customers improved performance, added functions and outstanding value.

With the release of the new firmware, the X-E2’s electronic viewfinder (EVF) is further improved and now has a lag time of just 0.005 seconds, and is considered by many to be a nearly “Real Time Viewfinder.” The firmware also enhances the frame rate of the viewfinder and the highest frame rate is maintained even in low light conditions or night-time photography, providing smooth live view images through the lens.

In addition to the performance improvements, the new firmware adds:

Selectable colors in Focus Peak Highlight Users can now select Blue or Red in addition to the original White, to highlight areas of strong contrast. The strength of the color display can be also adjusted between High and Low according to the type of your subject or personal preference.

Added options for Fn (Function) buttons and customizable AE/AF buttons Users can now assign the "Face Detection" and "EVF/LCD Setting" selection options to two function buttons and two customizable AE/AF buttons in shooting mode. When set to "EVF/LCD Setting," the button is used to switch between four modes, including "Eye Sensor Mode" (automatically switches the EVF and LCD displays when the user's eye comes close to the viewfinder), "EVF Only," "LCD Only" and "EVF Only + Eye Sensor."

Suppressed Flash option Once the firmware is updated, a Suppressed Flash mode (where the flash does not fire even when the subject is poorly lit) can be selected from the flash menu.

With the addition of the new firmware, the FUJIFILM X-E2 continues on its promise to deliver picture quality that rivals full-frame cameras with high definition image capture, Fujifilm’s legendary color reproduction and category-leading speed.

I have a problem with my newly bought fujifilm X-E2. whenever i turn it on, it goes back to the start menu and reset the camera to default. i find it very frustrating. do you guys think that this is a factory defect or just a bug that can be fixed by firmware???

When Fujifilm will fix "plastic" and "waxy" images taken with 3200-6400iso? They look terrible with no detail! I remember Fuji advertiseing X-E2 as "delivering better image quality than X-E1" but X-E2 gives worse jpg IQ already from 2000iso compared to X-E1. They look really awful, like were taken with "point and shot" camera, not the one that costed over $1000. it's sad Fuji have not fixed it in this firmware.

I think they misunderstood the requested change to the EVF/LCD setup menu by simply allowing the setup to be assigned to a Fn button. What many users wanted is a different EVF/LCD mode that would use the EVF only (with eye sensor) for live view and shooting, and automatically switch to LCD for playback. Adding the EVF/LCD setup to a Fn button still requires changing setups to accomplish what could be automatic.

i must say the EVF is now as smooth as butter but i didnt see it unsatisfactory to start with. its still let down by shooting in daylight, i find myself covering the side of the camera with my left hand, a small eye cup would be fantastic & no a hat does not fix it for me.

Yes, that seems to be a problem with EVF's in general, that side light. I get the same problem with my Oly EM-1. I wear glasses and some kind of clip-on side shield would be perfect. They sell safety clip-ons, and perhaps with a little black paint... but for those without glasses a viewfinder cup that extended farther on one side might work well.

Good job Fuji. I specifically asked Fujiguys for ability to assign Face Recognition to one of the buttons, as even cheaper and earlier XM1 and XA1 had that ability, yet it was removed from later and more expensive XE2. And Fujiguys told me they would pass it along to Fuji Engineers. And, Voila!!!!

While they're at it, perhaps they could also allow X100s users to use faster minimum shutter speeds in auto ISO. When they changed auto ISO on the X line, they forgot to add faster shutter speeds on the X100s.

I was also hopping Fuji would allow users to reconfigure the four way pad, just like on the X-T1, but apparently not.

wow, fuji certainly knows how to treat its customers. Unlike samsung, that did NOT add the remote viewfinder pro features to NX300, despite having the SAME hardware as NX30 (a camera that has the new feature).

@tecnoworld, I was asking about the sales of your own Samsung gear... you know, to get this new Fuji of yours and be happy forever and ever (or is it Sony?)...

Otherwise, the NX30 has indeed the same performances as the NX300 IQ wise (same sensor) but to describe it as plasticky and bulky only reflects your opinion. Yes it's light but it's not plastic and I find it quite balanced with a much better grip than any other Samsung I have owned. It also fits in exactly the same small pouch as my NX10 used to fit... but enough of the hijacking, I bid you farewell tecnoworld.

Of course that's my opinion, and in fact I wrote IMHO (In My Humble Opinion).

If you think it has the same built quality as cameras like X-T1 or NEX7, then that's your opinion :) Much different from mine, of course.

The sale of my own gear is going bad, in the sense that nobody wants Samsung NX, even at good prices (I wasn't able to sell the NX200 with kitlens even at 240€, when I bought the NX300 more than one year ago, as I wasn't able to sell the NX100 at 200€ when I bought the NX200...).

I think samsung gear is worth very, very few, after 6 months. So I think it's totally unuseful to try and sell it.

"The viewfinder now operates at 200Hz, meaning a lag of just 0.005 seconds." This is not necessarily correct. The lag can be anything and is not directly related to the frequency, as the quote implies.

Both factors contribute if it's anything like a PC display, unless they've syncd the EVF refresh rate to the speed at which it's fed, which they're only now managing to do on PCs (but could be much simpler on a wholly integrated system like a camera).

I wish they added EVF / review on LCD option like on the older models. I was really hoping for that return. Also, I was hopeful the plastic skin issue at high iso would be addressed on this firmware. This is only because I do love the Fuji jpeg engine from the original XP1/XE1 series. Still, I am happy with this firmware and I applaud Fuji for taking care of its customers. Thanks Fuji!

True. I remember everybody (me included) was very excited and appreciative about Fuji when pushing the last firmware updates to the discontinued X-E1 (to modify auto iso and others). Now, if they push again the features (supported by the hardware) to the old models (like the much loved X-E1), they will be even more appreciated, and gain more loyalty from customers.

Considering their history, I expect a new firmware for our nice XE1 as well. Currently the focus peak is difficult to discern in the EVF, I hope that a colour change would help.The performance improvements may be too linked to the hardware of the XE2 to be backwards compatible but the feature improvements might work on the XE1.

X-E2 and X-T1 are meant for photographers.If you are really in need of video then buy something else.

I'd rather have Fuji engineers spent time on features that help photographers instead of those few that take video as their main dish while using a camera that first and fore all is still a stills camera.

I agree with just a photographer. I want a camera with photo features and good IQ. I don't need fluff, like GPS or video, or Wifi or silly art filters or other junk. I only want the necessary components to get a good picture.

The "Read about our experience using the X-E2 with firmware 2.0" link goes to the "Fujifilm XF 56mm F1.2 R real-world samples gallery" page...Ah, never mind - I see it covers both. Maybe change the title?

Well, from messages on the forums, colour in focus peaking is a significant update. There were lots of moans about the inferiour focus peaking.

One the one hand the change is minor from a coding point of view (I'm a programmer) and ont he other significant for manual focusing. So the reproach is "why not in the first place" which is the general theme of these firmware updates.

It already had enough features to make it likeable and worthy of purchase. It didnt need reproach. All cameras are deficit in some aspect. Point to the perfect, complete camera. There is none. Each has at least one thing and many more missing from your, or his, or some other guys dream wish list. But if, to someone, the camera is worthy of purchase, then they buy that one. If Fuji then, additionally, releases more updates and benefits for the camera, then it is worthy of praise. And we applaud Fuji for doing it.

Fuji is not Nikon or Canon with a cadre of loyal fans locked into a system and massive investment. Fuji is still subject to intense competition. They are producing excellent cameras which are worthy of purchase on their own, regardless of small deficit in any persons opinion. To later go back and address any of those points for improvement, after having already sold a good and competitive camera at a very good price, means that Fuji deserves good praise.

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